Lee Dawkins, a solicitor specialising in negligent Will claims, reports on the recent case of ‘FELTHAM –v- BOUSKELL’ in which a solicitor was found to be negligent for the delay in preparing a Will.
The solicitor’s client, Hazel Charlton, was a woman in her 90’s. She had recently been admitted to a nursing home and was suffering from dementia.
Hazel decided that she would like to leave a legacy to her step-granddaughter, Lorraine Feltham.
The solicitor quite rightly said that a Medical Report would need to be obtained to establish whether Hazel had the necessary testamentary capacity to make a valid Will. He therefore requested that a report be obtained.
Hazel then subsequently called the solicitor and apparently told him that she had concerns about Lorraine’s motives. During the course of this telephone conversation she did not mention anything to the solicitor about making a new Will.
When the Medical Report arrived it confirmed that Hazel did have the requisite testamentary capacity to make a Will. However, in view of what Hazel had said the solicitor did not take any action.
Because Hazel had not heard from the solicitor she asked Lorraine to go ahead and prepare a new Will for her. Lorraine used a Wills website and under the terms of the new Will she was left a very substantial legacy.
Within a week or so of making the new Will Hazel died.
The validity of the Will was challenged by the other beneficiaries on the grounds of want of knowledge and approval.
Their challenge was made easier because it had been left to Lorraine herself to organise the new Will. There was therefore a high burden of proof on her to show that Hazel knew and approved its contents. Lorraine’s position would have been a great deal better if the Will had been prepared by the solicitor.
Accordingly, Lorraine felt that she had no alternative but to reach a settlement with the other beneficiaries, paying them £325,000 each.
Lorraine then decided to bring a negligence claim against the solicitors for delay in preparing Hazel’s Will.
Lorraine’s claim was based on the ‘White –v- Jones’ principle. So, whilst she was not a client herself the solicitors nevertheless owed Lorraine a duty of care.
The Court was critical of the solicitor. It had taken 5 weeks for the Medical Report to be obtained which the Judge said was far too long, indicating that the solicitor should have chased up the report after 10 days and if necessary made alternative arrangements.
The Court was also critical of the solicitor’s conduct once the Medical Report had been obtained. The solicitor should have visited Hazel at the nursing home to discuss her testamentary wishes and held the firm liable for professional negligence.
Our professional negligence solicitors work closely with our specialist contentious probate team on negligent will claims. If you or a member of your family has suffered loss as a result of a solicitor’s delay in preparing a Will and you wish to claim compensation then call our claimline for a free case assessment on Freephone 0333 888 0409 or email Lee Dawkins at [email protected]